The chronicles of a crazy idiot, hoping to catch that elusive big one.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Attack of the ‘toman’

KUALA LUMPUR: Prized birds at Zoo Negara have been falling prey to an unlikely predator in its lake – the ikan toman (giant snakehead fish).

Zoo Negara Reptile House and Veterinary Department supervisor Jamsari Mohamad said the fish, considered the dominant species in the lake, were becoming increasingly unmanageable and were endangering the bird population in the zoo.

He said the fish attacked in the morning and afternoon, with the birds sustaining injuries in the feet and neck, while some had also been reported dead.

‘THIS BIG’: Jamsari says the giant snakehead fish is a danger to the birds at Zoo Negara

“We used to have mandarin ducks some years ago but they are all gone now,” he pointed out.

“The fish have been living in the lake for as long as the lake has been there, and it is difficult to estimate their number.''

It was only three years ago that the zoo authorities found out that the ikan toman had been attacking the birds.

According to Jamsari, the zoo staff now net the ikan toman every two or three months to control the population, but the fish reproduce very quickly.

MEAL TIME: A worker feeding birds at the Zoo Negara lake recently. It is believed that very little food is left for the birds as the giant snakehead fish will gobble up everything first.

“It is also risky to try draining the lake to catch them as this will endanger the other fish species,” he added.